Understanding Global Hemp Laws

Industrial hemp is a business like any other where every dealer seeks to be as profitable as possible.

Consequently, a hemp producer or dealer should understand the global hemp laws and understand the international supply chain before engaging in the production of the product.

Industrial Hemp Producing Countries

Over 30 countries worldwide engage in the production and industrial manufacture of industrial hemp. China is the world leader of industrial hemp production. China produces more than 70% of the world’s hemp. France also produces large quantities of hemp and ranks second after China. Other countries that produce hemp include Canada, the rest of Europe, Egypt, Germany, India, Netherlands, Russia, and New Zealand. Other hemp producers include Chile, North Korea, Australia, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Thailand, the UK, and Ukraine.

Global Hemp Restrictions

Because of its close resemblance to marijuana, most countries in the world regulate hemp production. Therefore, most countries allow the production of hemp under regulated licenses. Hemp is mostly regulated and classified under the same category as marijuana as a drug that has the potential to be misused. The good news is that, although there are hemp restrictions in most countries in the world, hemp is still produced annually by these countries and there is a good supply of seeds and fiber for manufacturers dealing with hemp.

On 20th December 2018, President Donald Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill. The move spared industrial hemp from being classified as a controlled product. This means that any farmer can now deal with the production of hemp and also get funding for the same.

In Australia, there are hemp restrictions with a requirement for farmers to obtain licenses before growing hemp for industrial use. In Australia, Hemp production is under the Drugs Misuse Act.

From 1998, Canada permitted Hemp production but under the control of Health Canada. Canada cultivates hemp mainly for food. They use the hemp seeds for food with only a small portion used for technical purposes.

France on the other hand, dedicated over 27,000 acres of its land to hemp production in 2011. Most of their industrial help is for manufacturing cigarette pulp papers and technical uses.

The Soviet Union was the largest hemp producer in the 1970s. Their department of Hemp Breeding Department was focused on developing new hemp varieties to help increase yields and quality. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union affected hemp production and currently many acres of land grow wildly in only some parts of Russia.

While in the UK, hemp production is controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act and licenses have to be obtained for the cultivation of hemp.

The Global Economic Potential of Industrial Hemp

Hemp has a lot of economic potential worldwide. The plannt can be used for the production of bioplastics, paint, animal feeds, human foods, clothing, hempcrete, paper, drugs, to but a mention a few. One of hemp’s main potential includes creating new job opportunities because of the possibility of new industries being started to refine industrial hemp.

Worth noting is that hemp production begins with the legalization of hemp farming in one’s country of residence.

Hemp selling is limited worldwide to a few products. Although some countries may restrict hemp products that may seem psychoactive like CBD oil, it is essential to note that there are no restrictions worldwide on the selling of non-psychoactive products like bio-plastics or hempcrete. Therefore, dealers of hemp should work to overcome supply chain challenges and expand their industrial hemp businesses globally.

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